THE WOMEN VISIT THE TOMB, SEE THE ANGELS, AND GO TO THE DISCIPLES

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Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Question asked just before the women arrive at the tomb.

[3] And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb?

The women arrive [The angel is not on the stone]

[16:4] and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great.

[24:2] And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

[20:1b] and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb.

They enter the tomb and do not find Jesus.

[5a] And entering into the tomb,

[3] And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Angels now inside the tomb; at least one (apparently the main speaker) sits down.

[Compare to the angel's appearance in 28:3.]

[5b]they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe;

[4] And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel:

[Compare to the angel's appearance in 20:12.]

The women's reaction

[5c] and they were amazed.

[5a] and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth,

The angel speaking:

1) Don't be afraid.

2) You're looking for Jesus...

3) Don't look for the living among the dead.

4) He has risen.

[5] And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified. [6a] He is not here; for he is risen, ...

[6a] And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here:

[5b] they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? [6a] He is not here, but is risen:

5) He told you this would happen.

[6b] ... even as he said.

[6b] remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, [7] saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

6) See where he had been laid.

[6c] Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

[6b] behold, the place where they laid him!

The women remember Jesus' words.

[8] And they remembered his words,

The angel continues to speak:

7) Tell his disciples he is alive.

8) Go to Galilee, where you'll see him. (See Note 1.)

9) I have told you this (which is the same thing he told you).

[7] And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

[7] But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

The women are bewildered, and quickly leave the tomb, speaking to no one, as they go to the disciples

[8a] And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy,

[8] And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid.

The women report all this to the disciples (& the others), but it makes no sense to them. (Also, a list given of the women present at this point in time.) See Note 2.

[8b] and ran to bring his disciples word.

[9] and returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. [10] Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James: and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles. [11] And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them.

[2] She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him.